Emmie and I started the morning with a father-daughter road trip west in search of baked goods and cheese. Our first stop was at the highly-recommended Tyndall Bakery, located 25 miles from Yankton. We picked up a half dozen pastries, including two cinnamon rolls, an apple fritter, and three donuts, one of which Emmie took to eating right away. Altogether, we spent less than $6 and walked away with some really superb baked goods. I can personally attest that the cinnamon roll and apple fritter were phenomenal.
Emmie couldn’t wait to get started on her donut.
We then drove 40 miles north to the usually-sleepy town of Dimock, population 125. Cars were parked everywhere when we arrived, for what we later learned was the second day of an auction selling off the remaining inventory following the closure of the local lumberyard. With the auction drawing a lot of attention, we were the only people at the town’s cheese shop, the Dimock Dairy.
Billing itself as South Dakota’s oldest cheese plant, Dimock Dairy has been in business since 1931. It’s a cooperative owned by local shareholders and has a small retail store attached to its production facility. Inside is a large refrigerator case with over 20 varieties of locally-made cheese, ranging from classic cheddar to ranch-infused colby jack to their hottest offering, ghost pepper cheese. All priced at under $5.00 per pound, we stocked up, picking up more than a dozen half-pound blocks to take back to Iowa.
Emmie proudly hoists her cheese above her head.
Upon return to Yankton, Emmie and I stopped by my favorite local sub shop, Muggsy’s. While the restaurant’s glory days (including mention in multiple national publications) seem to be in the rear view, the seafood salad sub I ordered with lettuce, tomato, salt and pepper was as good as I remember from my days working in Yankton.
Amanda and Natalie took Sadie to the local mall for the Riverboat Days Craft Show, while everyone except Rory and Ella managed some semblance of a nap. Amanda and Natalie’s trip also featured a stop at Hy-Vee, where they picked up ingredients for dinner: Josh’s famous chicken, cheese, and green chili enchiladas. Made with sour cream, cream cheese, and over a pound of shredded cheese per batch, the scrumptious enchiladas are a dairy-lover’s dream. We each managed a large portion before heading to Yankton’s Meridian Highway Bridge for an evening walk.
Our crew, minus Amanda, getting ready to cross the bridge.
Originally opened to traffic on October 11, 1924, the bridge connected South Dakota and Nebraska with each level dedicated to one direction of traffic. After 84 years, the bridge was retired in favor of the newly-constructed, single-level Discovery Bridge. The old bridge was refurbished for use as a charming pedestrian bridge and is said to be the longest such bridge connecting two different states.
Noah and Rory loved riding in the wagon.
Emmie and Ella held hands crossing the lower level of the bridge.
Amanda and I overlooking Yankton and the Missouri River.
Our day of activities ended with a backyard fire, giving Noah his first opportunity to roast a marshmallow and enjoy a s’more. The heat had dissipated and we enjoyed the time chatting, listening to Ella and Rory tell “scary” stories, and eating s’mores.
After church with the Lamers on Sunday, we reheated leftover enchiladas before taking Noah to Yankton’s Riverside Park to experience his first helicopter ride. We waited nearly 30 minutes for the 7-minute ride, which took us over Yankton proper, including the campus of my former employer, Mount Marty College. We also saw the Missouri River and aforementioned Meridian Bridge before returning to our departure spot in the park.
Noah and Amanda took a selfie inside the helicopter.
The Mount Marty College campus, from above.
Noah and I in front of the helicopter.
The kids slept a solid three hours in the van on our return journey, which included a final stop in the western Iowa town of Atlantic to meet up with Amanda’s former co-worker Mary. We enjoyed good food and conversation at Pizza Ranch before loading into the van one final time for the last leg of our drive. We were elated to be back to Ankeny at 9:30 p.m. after a jam-packed four days.